Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a rack, a shield, and a fan. The rack defines a first vent opening and a second vent opening aligned with the first vent opening. The shield is mounted in the rack and aligned with the first vent opening. The shield defines a frame opening corresponding to the first vent opening. A plurality of shielding pieces are pivotally mounted in the frame opening, and rotate to shield the frame opening because of gravity. The shield includes a plurality of guarding bars to guard the plurality of shielding pieces from being damaged. The fan is mounted in the rack and aligned with the second vent opening and the shield. The fan generates air flow flowing through an air passage between each adjacent two of the plurality of shielding pieces, and the plurality of shielding pieces are rotated by the air flow.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fan assemblies, and more particularly to a fan assembly in an electronic device for dissipating heat from the electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

A large amount of heat may be generated from electric elements of an electronic device during operation. If the heat is not dissipated efficiently, the electric elements may be damaged. Therefore, efficient heat-dissipating devices are desired.

A fan is often used as a conventional means to dissipate the heat from the electronic device. In conventional means, a rack is provided for receiving a plurality of fans. A plurality of through holes are defined in the rack for vent air. However, debris or air particles may contaminate the electronic device via the plurality of through holes. The contaminate may cause damage to the electronic device.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded and isometric view of a fan assembly of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a shield cover of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is another assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a fan assembly in accordance with an embodiment. The fan assembly includes a rack 20, a fan 30, and a shield 40.

The rack 20 includes a first side wall 21 and a parallel second side wall 23. After the rack 20 is mounted in an electronic device, the second side wall 23 is located in the electronic device, and the first side wall 21 is located out of the electronic device. A plurality of partitions 25 are secured between the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 23 to form a plurality of receiving rooms 27 in the rack 20. Each of the receiving rooms 27 is adapted to receive the fan 30 and the shield 40. The first side wall 21 defines a first vent opening 211 and a notch 213 corresponding to each of the receiving rooms 27. The notch 213 is located above the first vent opening 211. The second side wall 23 defines a second vent opening 231 corresponding to each of the receiving rooms 27. The first vent opening 211 is aligned to the second vent opening 231. Each of the partitions 25 forms a limiting piece 251 separating a corresponding one of the plurality of receiving rooms 27 into a fan receiving room 28 and a shield receiving room 29. A distance between the second side wall 23 and the limiting piece 251 is larger than that between the first side wall 21 and the limiting piece 251. The fan receiving room 28 is located adjacent the second side wall 23. The shield receiving room 29 is located adjacent the first side wall 21. Each of the plurality of partitions 25 defines a mounting hole 253.

The fan 30 includes a shell 31 and a group of blades (not labeled) rotatably mounted in the shell 31. The shell 31 includes a side plate 34. An elastic piece 35 is located on the side plate 34. A protrusion 351 is formed on the elastic piece 35.

FIGS. 2 and 3, show the shield 40 includes a frame 41. A top portion of the frame 41 extends upward to form a lock 43. The lock 43 includes a connection piece 431, a bent piece 432, and a handle 433. The connection piece 431 is connected to the frame 41. The bent piece 432 is perpendicularly connected to a top portion of the connection piece 431. The handle 433 is perpendicularly connected to the bent piece 432. A tab 435 is formed on a connection portion of the bent piece 432 and the connection piece 431.

The frame 41 includes a first side 411 facing away from the fan 30 and a second side 412 facing the fan 30. A center portion of the frame 41 is hollow to define a frame opening 418. The frame opening 418 extends through the first side 411 and the second side 412. A plurality of guarding bars 45 are mounted on the first side 411. A plurality of blocking bars 413 is located on the first side 411 and adjacent to opposite edges of the frame opening 418.

A plurality of shielding pieces 46 are pivotally mounted on the second side 412. Each shielding piece 46 includes a rotating portion 461 and a free portion 462. Opposite ends of the rotating portion 461 form a pair of pivot shafts 463. The frame 41 defines a plurality of pivot holes (not shown) corresponding to the pivot shafts 463 of the plurality of shielding pieces 46. The pivot shafts 463 are pivotally mounted in the pivot holes. Each shielding piece 46 includes a first side face 465 and a second side face 466. Between adjacent two of the shielding pieces 46, the second side face 466 of the free portion 462 of one of the shielding pieces 46 is located on the first side face 465 of the rotating portion 461 of another one of the shielding pieces 46. All of the shielding pieces 46 can shield the entire frame opening 418. The guarding bars 45 can prevent the shielding pieces 46 from being damaged.

FIGS. 1 to 5, show in assembly, the fan 30 is placed into the fan receiving room 28 of each of the receiving rooms 27. The elastic piece 35 is elastically bent by each of the partitions 25. The fan 30 is moved until the protrusion 351 is aligned to the mounting hole 253. The elastic piece 35 rebounds inserting the protrusion 351 in the mounting hole 253 to mount the fan 30 in each of the receiving rooms 27. In this position, the fan 30 is aligned to the second vent opening 231.

The shield 40 is placed into the shield receiving room 29 of each of the receiving rooms 27. The second side face 466 of each shielding piece 46 faces the fan 30. The tab 435 of the shield 40 is locked in the notch 213 of the rack 20 mounting the shield 40 in each of the receiving rooms 27. In each of the receiving rooms 27, the limiting piece 251 separates the shield 40 from the fan 30. At this position, the first side face 465 of each of the shielding pieces 46 faces to the first vent opening 211.

When the fan assembly is mounted on the electronic device and the fan 30 operates, the fan 30 rotates to drive air to flow into the fan 30 via the second vent opening 231. Air flows through the fan 30 and towards the second side faces 466 of the plurality of shielding pieces 46 of the shield 40. Each of the shielding pieces 46 is blown to rotate in the frame opening 418 until the blocking bars 413 block corresponding shielding pieces 46. Therefore, an air passage 80 (referring to FIG. 5) is defined between two adjacent shielding pieces 46. Air flows out of the rack 20 via the air passages 80. Each of the blocking bars 417 blocks the corresponding shielding piece 46 to prevent over-rotation.

If the fan 30 does not rotate, the shielding pieces 46 succumbs to gravity to automatically shield the air passages 80 and the fame opening. Therefore, debris or air particles cannot enter the electronic device via the first vent opening 211 and the second vent opening 231 of the rack 20.

In the fan assembly, the guarding bars 45 are located adjacent to the shielding pieces 46 to guard the shielding pieces 46 from being damaged.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan assembly, comprising: a rack defining a first vent opening and a second vent opening aligned with the first vent opening, a shield mounted in the rack and aligned with the first vent opening, the shield defining a frame opening corresponding to the first vent opening, a plurality of shielding pieces pivotally mounted on the frame opening, the plurality of shielding pieces are rotatable to a closed position, to shield the frame opening, due to the force of gravity, the shield comprising a plurality of guarding bars, and the plurality of guarding bars configured to prevent the plurality of shielding pieces from being damaged; and a fan mounted in the rack and aligned with the second vent opening and the shield; the fan is configured to generate airflow flowing through an air passage between each adjacent two of the plurality of shielding pieces, and the plurality of shielding pieces are configured to be rotated by the airflow.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a frame, the frame comprises a first side and a second side, the second side faces to the fan, and the first side faces back to the fan, and the frame opening extends through the first side and the second side.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of shielding pieces are pivotally mounted on the second side, and the plurality of guarding bars are mounted on the first side.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces comprises a rotating portion and a free portion, opposite ends of the rotating portion form a pair of pivot shafts, and the frame defines a plurality of pivot holes for the pivot shafts of the plurality of shielding pieces being pivotally mounted therein.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces comprises a first side face and a second side face, the first side face faces to the first vent opening, the second side face faces to the fan; and between each adjacent two shielding pieces, a second side face of the free portion of one of the two shielding pieces is located on a first side face of the rotating portion of another one of the two shielding pieces.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein a plurality of blocking bars is located on the first side and adjacent to opposite edges of the frame opening, and each of the plurality of shielding pieces is configured to rotate until each of the plurality of shielding pieces abuts corresponding blocking bar.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a side plate, an elastic piece is located on the side plate, a protrusion is located on the elastic piece, the rack defines a mounting hole, and the elastic piece is configured to be elastically bent by the rack such that the protrusion is mounted in the mounting hole.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the rack defines a notch above the first vent opening, the shield comprises a lock; the lock comprises a connection piece, a bent piece, and a handle; the connection piece is connected to the shield; the bent piece is perpendicularly connected to a top portion of the connection piece; the handle is perpendicularly connected to the bent piece; a tab is located on a connection portion between the bent piece and the connection piece, the bent piece is configured to be elastically bent by the rack such that the tab is mounted in the notch; and the handle is configured to be pulled to bent the bent piece and to move the tab out of the notch.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a limiting piece separating the shield from the fan.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein a distance between the second vent opening and the limiting piece is greater than that between the first vent opening and the limiting piece.
 11. A fan assembly, comprising: a rack comprising a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall defining a first vent opening, the second side wall defining a second vent opening aligned with the first vent opening; a fan mounted between the first side wall and the second side wall, the fan aligned with the second vent opening; a shield mounted between the fan and the first side wall, the shield defining a frame opening aligned with the fan and the first vent opening, a plurality of shielding pieces pivotally mounted in the frame opening, the plurality of shielding pieces are rotatable to a closed position, to shield the frame opening, due to the force of gravity, the shield comprising a plurality of guarding bars, and the plurality of guarding bars configured to prevent the plurality of shielding pieces from being damaged; wherein the fan is configured to blow air towards the plurality of shielding pieces such that the plurality of shielding pieces are configured to be rotated to uncover the frame opening.
 12. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the shield comprises a frame, the frame comprises a first side and a second side, the second side faces to the fan, the first side faces back to the fan, and the frame opening extends through the first side and the second side.
 13. The fan assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of shielding pieces are pivotally mounted on the second side, and the plurality of guarding bars are mounted on the first side.
 14. The fan assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces comprises a rotating portion and a free portion, opposite ends of the rotating portion form a pair of pivot shafts, and the frame defines a plurality of pivot holes for the pivot shafts of the plurality of shielding pieces being pivotally mounted therein.
 15. The fan assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces comprises a first side face and a second side face, the first side face faces to the first vent opening, the second side face faces to the fan; and between each adjacent two shielding pieces, a second side face of the free portion of one of the two shielding pieces is located on a first side face of the rotating portion of another one of the two shielding pieces.
 16. The fan assembly of claim 13, wherein a plurality of blocking bars is located on the first side and adjacent to opposite edges of the frame opening, and each of the plurality of shielding pieces is configured to rotate until each of the plurality of shielding pieces abuts corresponding blocking bar.
 17. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the fan comprises a side plate, an elastic piece is located on the side plate, a protrusion is located on the elastic piece, the rack defines a mounting hole, and the elastic piece is configure to be elastically bent by the rack such that the protrusion is mounted in the mounting hole.
 18. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the first side wall defines a notch above the first vent opening, the shield comprises a lock; the lock comprises a connection piece, a bent piece, and a handle; the connection piece is connected to the shield; the bent piece is perpendicularly connected to a top portion of the connection piece; the handle is perpendicularly connected to the bent piece; a tab is located on a connection portion between the bent piece and the connection piece, the bent piece is configured to be elastically bent by the rack such that the tab is mounted in the notch; and the handle is configured to be pulled to bent the bent piece and to move the tab out of the notch.
 19. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the rack comprises a limiting piece separating the shield from the fan.
 20. The fan assembly of claim 19, wherein a distance between the second side wall and the limiting piece is larger than that between the first side wall and the limiting piece. 